polymers Article Static and Dynamic Behavior of Polymer/Graphite Oxide Nanocomposites before and after Thermal Reduction Kiriaki Chrissopoulou 1,* , Krystalenia Androulaki 1,2, Massimiliano Labardi 3 and Spiros H. Anastasiadis 1,2 1 Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, N. Plastira 100, 700 13 Heraklion Crete, Greece;
[email protected] (K.A.);
[email protected] (S.H.A.) 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, 710 03 Heraklion Crete, Greece 3 CNR-IPCF, c/o Physics Department, University of Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +30-281-039-1255 Abstract: Nanocomposites of hyperbranched polymers with graphitic materials are investigated with respect to their structure and thermal properties as well as the dynamics of the polymer probing the effect of the different intercalated or exfoliated structure. Three generations of hyperbranched polyester polyols are mixed with graphite oxide (GO) and the favorable interactions between the polymers and the solid surfaces lead to intercalated structure. The thermal transitions of the confined chains are suppressed, whereas their dynamics show similarities and differences with the dynamics of the neat polymers. The three relaxation processes observed for the neat polymers are observed in the nanohybrids as well, but with different temperature dependencies. Thermal reduction of the graphite oxide in the presence of the polymer to produce reduced graphite oxide (rGO) reveals an increase in the reduction temperature, which is accompanied by decreased thermal stability of the polymer. Citation: Chrissopoulou, K.; The de-oxygenation of the graphite oxide leads to the destruction of the intercalated structure and Androulaki, K.; Labardi, M.; to the dispersion of the rGO layers within the polymeric matrix because of the modification of the Anastasiadis, S.H.